Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 103 Delivery
Shen's Clothing Shop.

Gu Yansheng received a call and came to pick up his clothes.

Shen Linshen took out some clothes for Gu Yansheng to try on, and whispered, "While the team from southern Anhui was buying cotton yarn, the Japanese puppet army killed two groups of underground couriers and porters in succession on the line from Wuhu to Jingxian, resulting in a total of seven people killed.

The people in southern Anhui now suspect that their cotton yarn purchases have been targeted, and that the underground merchants have probably become traitors and reported the news directly to the Japanese and puppet troops. The route they found was so accurate that they were targeted before they even left the city.

They think it will take time to investigate this matter, but the cotton yarn issue cannot wait. It is already very cold in the mountains, and there are signs of snow. Once the snow closes the mountain, nothing can be delivered. The organization wants us to think of a solution.

Gu Yansheng thought quickly and asked, "How many days does it take to ship from Shanghai to the New Fourth Army headquarters?"

Shen Linshen knew very well: "The fastest way is by water. We can go from Shanghai across the Yangtze River to Wuhu, and then transport it by land from Wuhu to Yunling, Jingxian County. If everything goes well, it will take 7 days, and if it is slow, it will take 10 days.

However, the Japanese army set up checkpoints in Wuhu and Ma'anshan on the Yangtze River, making it difficult to pass through. You might be able to get through by sailing at night with a bit of luck.

The slower route is pure land transport, from Shanghai to Suzhou, Suzhou to Huzhou, then to Guangde, then Xuancheng, and finally Jingxian. This route requires detours through mountain roads to avoid Japanese checkpoints, and it may take 17 to 22 days. With such a large volume, we need a mule and horse team starting from Shanghai.

In fact, the only way is to go by water, because the mule and horse team departing from Shanghai requires too many people.

"Japanese military checkpoint inspection, what is required to pass normally?"

"A customs pass. Cotton yarn is a controlled item. We need a special pass for military supplies issued by the Japanese Army Shipping Division and stamped with the military police seal."

"Can't the city government do that?"

"It probably won't work. The city government's SH pass is useful for entering and exiting the city, but if you go to other cities, the Japanese will probably not recognize it unless you bribe them, but I'm not sure if that will work."

"What about Japanese companies? Mitsui's?"

"Mitsui is fine! But it also requires a Class A shipping label. This is to prevent people from pretending to be Mitsui."

Mitsui is a giant military-industrial enterprise in Japan and it has some style.

Gu Yansheng nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Well, ask the military if there's any place they can hijack the ship after they pass the checkpoint. You just mentioned that two groups of our people were killed between Wuhu and Jingxian. If the cargo is unloaded in Wuhu, I think the transportation is firstly unsafe. Secondly, if something goes wrong along the way, the whereabouts of the cargo will be in question. Hijacking the ship is no problem, but the cargo can disappear on the river, and there are many ways to get away with it."

"Below Wuhu is Tongling, below Tongling is Anqing, below Anqing is Jiujiang, which is the Kuomintang-controlled area. If we want to hijack a ship, we can only go to Tongling. It's actually closer to the military headquarters than Wuhu. I'll ask and get back to you as soon as possible."

"Okay, just say the clothes need to be altered. My shoulders aren't feeling well."

"What about the boat? Should I rent it? Should I send someone to escort the hijacked ship?"

"Well, don't rush to rent a boat. First, confirm whether it's possible to rob it. I'll ask someone about this."

"Is there anyone I can ask about this?"

"Of course, there are many talented people in prison."

"Okay, then I'll contact you when I have news."

"Okay, ask them what else they need, and if we can transport it all at once."

"Okay, I understand. Bye, boss."

Gu Yansheng went out, bought a roast chicken and a pot of wine, and went to Caohejing Prison.

Gu Zhuxuan was brought into the reception room.

As soon as he came in, he smiled and said, "Three roast chickens, three times a day. Although none of them are fresh, I still miss Director Gu's taste."

After saying that, he sat down and started to eat the roast chicken, accompanied by fine wine, feeling very happy.

"You picked it when there was food available. That's great for you, isn't it?" Gu Yansheng sat down jokingly.

"Eating this in prison has a unique flavor."

"Okay, go ahead and eat your food. I came here to ask you something. If I want to sell a batch of cotton yarn to the Kuomintang-controlled area, what can I do?"

Gu Zhuxuan raised his eyebrows and looked at Gu Yansheng meaningfully: "Director Gu, are you changing your ways?"

"I do think so, but I haven't seen any Chongqing elements trying to recruit me. How can I change it?"

Gu Yansheng sneered. "The cotton yarn market in Shanghai is very bad right now. I have a lot of cotton yarn. I heard that the price is high in the Kuomintang-controlled areas. Cotton yarn is in short supply. I want you to think of a way to help me get it over there. I need to sell it quickly before winter is over."

Gu Zhuxuan nodded and thought, "Then we have to cross the Yangtze River and pass the Japanese checkpoints. Can you handle this? If you can, it will be very simple."

"Why would I need you if I can handle it? Selling this kind of thing over there, I can handle it. Do you think I need to take this risk?"

"That's right." Gu Zhuxuan agreed. "How much is it?"

"One thousand six hundred or seven hundred bags."

"So many?" Gu Zhuxuan was surprised, then thought for a moment and said, "There's a way. You have a lot of goods, so the price should be affordable. Colonel Kobayashi of the Japanese Navy's Shipping Division sells special passes for military supplies. One pass costs 3000 taels of silver. Calculated by ship, that's 3000 taels per ship. If you need it, I can find someone to buy it for you. There's no risk to you."

"It's not cheap." The Japanese are very ruthless when it comes to making money. 3000 yuan is enough to live a romantic life in Shanghai for a year.

But it was easy to get. Gu Yansheng will have to find an opportunity to meet Colonel Kobayashi in the future.

"You can make money. You can rent a 30-ton iron-hulled barge. The cotton yarn can be loaded at 20 tons per trip. Fifteen ships are definitely enough. Forty-five thousand dollars, you can take it to the Kuomintang-controlled area and double the profit. It will definitely be more than what you sell in Shanghai. If the extra space can't hold the cotton yarn, you can take some other things, such as Western medicine and opium. Selling these things there makes huge profits. On your way back, you can also bring some things back to Shanghai. Isn't that another profit?" "Those who make a living in the underworld have many ways to make money." Gu Yansheng clapped his hands softly. "The title of Jiangbei Tycoon is well-deserved."

Gu Zhuxuan chuckled and said, "I can help you contact people and do things for you, but I have a condition."

Gu Yansheng smiled: "Besides letting you out, just ask."

"That's all." Gu Zhuxuan lowered his head and ate meat without any temper.

"Hahahaha." Gu Yansheng smiled and looked at him and said, "I said I would let you out. Why are you so anxious when the time isn't right?"

"How can you not be anxious? Do you really think this roast chicken is delicious?"

"If it doesn't taste good, don't eat it."

"That's still manageable. Director Gu's kindness shouldn't be wasted."

"Haha, actually, it's not impossible to let you go. I can afford the risk, but this matter can only be considered as interest. I need you to do something for me."

Gu Zhuxuan instantly became excited and said seriously, "Speak."

Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow. "In the future, your people will need to help me with some things that I can't do in person. It won't violate your principles. But there's one thing you absolutely must do for me. I'll need someone to help me smuggle drugs soon. This requires going overseas. I hope your people can participate. I don't trust some people."

"That's all." Gu Zhuxuan raised his glass.

Gu Yansheng poured a glass, clinked it, and drank it all in one gulp.

"make a deal."

"When will they be released?"

"It's better to do it today than today."

Gu Yansheng spoke calmly. Gu Zhuxuan was stunned. This happiness came too suddenly.

I was a little overwhelmed for a moment, "Should I go through any procedures?"

It was my first time in jail, so I had no experience.

"What's so easy? I'll make up for it later. Call your wife and ask her to pick him up. Also, bring 500 yuan as bail. In theory, you're being asked by the government to do something, and you've been released on bail. You'll be told this to anyone who asks you."

Gu Zhuxuan laughed heartily, "What a delight!"

After the call, Gu Yansheng said to him, "You must keep the things I asked you to do confidential and don't tell anyone else. Also, be quick and don't delay my work."

"Don't worry, as soon as I get out, just give me the warehouse address and I'll have people start loading the goods today. We should be able to ship tomorrow night or the next morning at the latest."

"it is good."

We talked about the details for a while, mainly saying that Gu Yansheng would send people to supervise the work, and they would be responsible for the sale of cotton yarn in the Kuomintang-controlled areas, and they would be treated as your own Qing Gang disciples.

Gu Zhuxuan didn't ask too many questions. The good thing about people who are out there in the underworld is that they know what's best for them. They've seen a lot and aren't that curious.

After his wife arrived, Gu Yansheng took Gu Zhuxuan out and said to the warden, "He has been released on bail." The warden smiled and saw them off respectfully, not even daring to ask the reason.

The next day, Gu Yansheng went to Shen Linshen to get the altered clothes, which fit much better this time.

"My hometown in southern Anhui said it's possible. After passing the Wuhu checkpoint, the Japanese are less strict about the rest of the journey. A patrol boat only comes through every two hours. The Tongling River section is narrow and has many undercurrents. Southern Anhui has already organized a water ghost team for training. The original purpose was to harass the Japanese army's Yangtze River transportation. There is no problem accepting the goods. We can then pretend that the goods were robbed by the river bandits. It all depends on whether you can get a pass."

"It's already been done. The boat will be able to leave tonight or tomorrow morning."

"So fast?"

"Well, I have help from a noble person." Gu Yansheng told the story of Gu Zhuxuan.

Shen Linshen knew this person. "I've heard about him. If it's him, I think there's no problem. He's definitely not Japanese, and he has a grudge against the Japanese. If we can recruit him to help us transport goods, it would be great."

Gu Yansheng nodded, "It's in the Kuomintang-controlled area. You need to contact the organization and see which station has people who can receive the goods. You have to do your best to make it look good. It will take a long time to go there, so the organization should have enough time to arrange it. If there is really no one, you can send comrades from the transportation station to rent a few warehouses to receive the goods. Anyway, the goods must be delivered to the Kuomintang-controlled area."

"I see. You're so efficient. I need to urge the Southern Anhui team to deliver the horses in case they run out of transport."
I'll send someone to the dock to contact Gu Zhuxuan's people first, so I won't entertain you.

By the way, the people in southern Anhui said that if you can buy some Western medicine, then buy some. There will be a lot of people getting sick in the mountains in winter. Their conditions are too bad now. The Japanese blockade is very strict. If the fellow villagers hadn't helped to purchase some supplies, even eating would be a bit difficult.

I heard from the comrades at the transportation station last time that they have been searching the mountains and plains for pine nuts to eat, and occasionally they can find some wild rabbits, which are rare delicacies.

"I'll think of a way." Gu Yansheng looked at his watch. He had to think of where to get so many medicines in less than a day.

"If time is tight, should we set sail a day later?" Shen Linshen also looked at the time. It was almost noon now. If the boat set sail at night, it would take less than 12 hours.

To satisfy the needs of the New Fourth Army, we need more than just one or two pills, at least a hundred doses.

"No, the sailing time cannot be late. There are too many unpredictable things on the road. The earlier we sail here, the more time we have for southern Anhui.

There's still time, I'll find a way, even if it means snatching a batch for you."

(End of this chapter)